Teacher strikes could close every Ealing school

EVERY school in Ealing is likely to close in a day of action as staff prepare for the biggest walk out the borough has ever seen.

Members of more moderate unions could be joining colleagues who went on strike in June in a row with the government about pension reform.

The headteachers' union NAHT, the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, as well as support staff in UNISON and GMB are now balloting for the action.

If their members vote for it, they will join others from the National Union of Teachers and Association of Teachers and Lecturers who are already set to walk out. They closed the majority of the borough's schools when they took similar action on June 30.

Nick Grant, Ealing Secretary for the NUT, said: "What's most interesting is the headteachers have joined the action. If they know their headteacher is going out on strike then staff in Ealing schools are unlikely not to do the same thing.

"Our pensions are sustainable, affordable, and costed until 2059. There is no reason for the changes other than the government looking to raise £2.8 million. Essentially it's an increase in tax by pushing up monthly contributions. The average teacher can expect to lose a day's pay a month when the changes come in by 2014."

The unions who held off in the summer hoped a compromise could be reached in government plans to make teachers work longer for their pensions, pay more and get less.

But the two sides have been at loggerheads throughout the past few months and unions have proposed a strike on November 30 which is likely to be followed by further days of unrest.

She said: "The talks are continuing. It's unnecessary flexing of muscles which is inconveniencing people and unacceptable.

"People are living longer and drawing pensions for longer, it's about the long term sustainability of public sector pensions.

"And it's an issue of fairness. Tax payers are paying for public sector pensions which are better than they can hope for themselves. It's about rebalancing so public sector workers put in a little bit more."

The results of the ballots will be known by mid-November.

Unions are holding a joint public rally in Ealing Town Hall at 7.15pm on Wednesday in preparation for the November strike.

Simon Osborne, director of Poisson Fresh Fish, in Northfield Avenue, whose children attend Fielding Primary School in Wyndham Road, Northfields, said: "It's inconvenient and can be difficult for parents but at the end of the day, teachers along with anybody else have the right to withdraw their labour in protest at what they is unfair treatment and I support their stance."

Sue Cullum, who has two daughters, aged five and seven, at Willow Tree Primary, in Priors Farm Road, Northolt, said: "It's inconvenient - not for me as I work in a school anyway as a caterer - but I imagine for people who've got full time jobs or cannot take the time off work, it's not very nice for them and the children."

Restaurant manager Dalawar, Chaudhry, who lives in Southall but has three children at Lampton's School in Hounslow, said:

"In order to maintain our teacher's well-being then it is vital that they have our support. Teaching staff have the right to be concerned about their pensions. If they continue to be treated badly then they will be demoralised and education will suffer as a result.

"However, Southall cannot afford any sort of teaching strike. It will impact massively on our children's futures and contribute to factors like anti-social behaviour and crime."